The new old Tokyo
The bright, racing, digital, 12 million person metropolis of Tokyo has gone all quiet and traditional. Tiny, obscured bars buried in dark alleyways behind nondescript doors are inviting small numbers of trusted patrons to quiet nights of reserved nightlife, and right now a word of mouth invitation to a small, basic bar is the hottest ticket in this technology-obsessed city. Recounted through a fine piece of travel writing Julia Chaplin of The Times strayed far from the well-trodden tourist grid and experienced the secretive, whispered nightlife chosen by Tokyo’s socialites and former party set. Embracing tradition and finding respite from an always-on connected lifestyle, Tokyo’s fashionistas, artists and designers are secretively guarding their new-found nightspots to enjoy quiet conversation and quality company in a more homely atmosphere than the more common western-style nightclubs and bars. A welcome change in Tokyo, the trend is unique in a global context – particularly in comparison to the fluorescent new rave invasion in London. [artwork by Hirofu ISO / Komainu]
Also by ANDY
After weeks of packing Australia’s crate with the best of Aussie nightlife, our crate was farewelled in lavish style at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange send-off party in Sydney last week. We discovered Australia is swapping with Brazil, so we’re hanging out for the samba and cachaça to sway ashore and lead us astray. Lost At E Minor contributor Michelle Wilding captured the vibe of the night and Aussie nightlife with this video.
The AP Tour brought metalcore music heavyweights and a convoy of sponsor vans head-first into a stormy Seattle last night. The Hurley denim reps were rattled; they’d endured a long drive from Utah through what they described as the worst weather they’d ever experienced. Joking around with them before the show I realised how shaken up these guys actually were; hands were still shaking and their laughter was racked by nerves. Read more
NOW: an Analog Moving Picture Project
There’s a great story behind this prog-surf film. Riley Blakeway was an aspiring surf film-maker with incredible talent and a handfull of small film projects to his name. Chippa Wilson was a relatively unknown but amazing aerial surfer without the opportunity to show the world what he could do. In 2009, they won STAB magazine’s Little Weeds competition, respectively taking out the film-maker and surfer prizes. Read more
YOU'RE SAYING (1)
HAVE YOUR SAY
We’ve featured the remarkable human eye photos of Suren Manvelyan before, but these are some more shots in this series. It gives an astounding window into the part of the human anatomy we spend more time than any staring at. Well, most of us do anyway. Read more
According to B.R. Meyers over at The Atlantic, there is a scourge of foodies looming over America. Foodies are bad because they fly to Vietnam for pho. All of them do, which is evil. But even if they stopped doing that, Meyers would still be mad because he hates that people enjoy food at all. Anthony Bourdain is the devil for encouraging people to love cooking, Michael Pollan is evil for making the elitist claim that fast food is bad for us. Read more
I ran a series of 80s nights in New York last year — showing cult 80s movies and playing classic cuts from that era of kitsch and spice — purely so I could spin After The Fire’s Der Kommissar over and over. Yessir, this was the future of music in 1983. Pity no one was listening.
If you come to Berlin, then I recommend this little shop, Dederon Design, specializing in stuff manufactured in, or inspired by, the former GDR (East Germany). Everything from ice cream cups to LP racks and toys. The woman running the shop even designs bags in some weird GDR-invented plastic material.
I’m about to reveal my true, nerdy colours to you all. The recently released Google Zeitgeist 2010 gives a fascinating overview of what the world was thinking this year by showing us what it searched. Oh World, Justin Bieber? What were you thinking?
I had the pleasure of seeing Duran Duran play a few weeks back in the balmy drizzle of New York’s Central Park. I always thought the guys had more cheek than they were ever given credit for. But don’t be fooled! For a band so rooted in the immediacy of disposable pop, they wrote some timeless songs, none more so than The Chauffeur.
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Hipster moms and dads, don’t send your hipster kids back to school without these awesome backpacks by Poketo. Seriously though, they’re so much cooler than any of those Jansport bags.
WE'RE POSTING / SOME OF THE BEST
Benjamin Edminston’s psychedelic heads seem to have some fearful wisdom behind their blissed-out eyes. Read more
Communication prosthesis by Sascha Nordmeyer
This ‘communication prosthesis’ by designer Sascha Nordmeyer is hilarious and awesome. I want to wear one to a job interview.
Baltimore Mural by Josh Van Horne
My friend Josh Van Horne, a local Baltimore artist, did this amazing mural in our neighborhood that depicts the history of this warehouse-laden area.
A little infectious lollipop rock anyone? Feel free to embarrass yourself singing along at the stoplight. If the other drivers give you that look, roll down the windows and spread the love.
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Nerd-attack! Man, this TARDIS zipper robe is so much cooler than any Star Wars crap people are hawking this days. This is for the true gangsta nerd.
Now this is fun. This 3D watch dial actually jumps to life. The dial is a modern version of the 19th century art form of lithophanes: carved porcelain sheets that, when lit, deliver astoundingly detailed images. When the pusher is activated, the dial springs to life in 3D, with an LED light and afterglow effect. Read more
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Chuck F said | 28 June, 2007
This has alwayls been true in Japan, Clubs are mainly for the 25 and under crowd. Everybody else just goes out drinking at small bars, the drinking culture in Japan is intense.
Nothing new to see here really, just the article entirely misinterpeting things. There are very very few hipster exclusive bars, most of the time it’s just the bar you’ve been going to for awhile or is near a spot you like. Exclusive in the case she writes would be like finding a mom and pap bar in some low-pedesterian area in NY.
The fact she even mentions Le Baron as being some exclusive hipster place is laughable, it’s just Roppongi for people that are in Tokyo longer then a month and recently has next to zero Japanese in it.